Make way for the ultimate homage to one of the most enduring legends of the big screen-Godzilla! The King of the Monsters is back in Tokyo for a city-crushing crusade that speaks to the very roots of the world-renowned franchise. It's a… MoreMake way for the ultimate homage to one of the most enduring legends of the big screen-Godzilla! The King of the Monsters is back in Tokyo for a city-crushing crusade that speaks to the very roots of the world-renowned franchise. It's a peaceful day in Japan when a strange fountain of water erupts in the bay, causing panic to spread among government officials. At first, they suspect only volcanic activity, but one young executive dares to wonder if it may be something different... something alive. His worst nightmare comes to life when a massive, gilled monster emerges from the deep and begins tearing through the city, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. As the government scrambles to save the citizens, a rag-tag team of volunteers cuts through a web of red tape to uncover the monster's weakness and its mysterious ties to a foreign superpower. But time is not on their side-the greatest catastrophe to ever befall the world is about to evolve right before their very eyes.

Directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, it has an excellent Godzilla, whose rampages are a good mixture of modern and traditional-looking special effects. Often, though, the monster is out of the action.

Finally a new Godzilla movie with some teeth! What makes this interesting though are the scenes depicting how the folks behind the scenes hope to get rid of the… MoreFinally a new Godzilla movie with some teeth! What makes this interesting though are the scenes depicting how the folks behind the scenes hope to get rid of the big lizard. There's a hierarchy. The proper people need be seen first. The whole Japanese collective thinking machine displayed pretty convincingly. Versus the American style. Yep. There's a "versus the Americans" thread going that spices the proceedings some. Bring on the next!

Luke Eberhardt

Shin Godzilla or 'Godzilla: Resurgence', the Godzilla film I never asked for yet after the success of Gareth Edwards 60th Anniversary film from 2014,… MoreShin Godzilla or 'Godzilla: Resurgence', the Godzilla film I never asked for yet after the success of Gareth Edwards 60th Anniversary film from 2014, the original studio ToHo decided they were interested in making their own vision to capitalize on the brand even further. It shouldn't come to a surprise given how big the brand is in it's native Japan, whilst I was skeptical I was also curious to see how it would turn out. Even with a Japanese production the campy factor of the franchise is back only this time the film is a full-fledged reboot not connected to any previous rendition. The film for one is unique able to offer a different perspective on the monster everyone knows and loves, though it's also a little inconsistent itself, attributing the original film with classic music themes and the original roar. Even with fast paced editing, impressive creature effects and a somewhat entertaining scope, the sequences and action involving Godzilla are few an far between a lot of player (not character) human drama and exposition. My only gripe with the creature design was how it started off and the overall hideous eyes that made it look like a dead amphibian zombie. While I really like Gareth Edwards' 2014 film, I can honestly say I was more invested and entertained with that film than this. Oh and I don't know if it should be a surprise to anyone this film ended with a sequel beg, WTF! only recommended to the most hardcore Godzilla fans even if this film isn't even close to being the best or the worst.

Nate Zoebl

Shin Godzilla is unlike just about any monster movie you've ever seen, and I don't know if that's a good thing. The newest rebirth of the famous… MoreShin Godzilla is unlike just about any monster movie you've ever seen, and I don't know if that's a good thing. The newest rebirth of the famous giant monster takes a new approach to large-scale destruction: bureaucratic minutia. This feels like a state department underling's doctoral thesis that was adapted into a feature film. We get a team of different intelligent operatives talking Aaron Sorkin-level fast and trying to work through the red tape of government to address the pressing needs of a giant fire-breathing lizard. It's like 80% government bureaucratic milieu and 20% monster movie. We get treated to just about every meeting room in Japan as the majority of scenes last a whopping 10-15 seconds. The pacing is so clipped, the satire is so understated, and the characters so numerous, that I was easily lost in the weeds and that was before Godzilla made its less than auspicious debut on screen. It's nothing short of what one of my friends described as a "turkey snake," and the googly eyes aren't helping. I'll make the same demand that I made with the 2014 American Godzilla movie: I need more Godzilla in my Godzilla movie, please. For fans of the series, they'll likely connect more with the social conscience platform and political critiques, but I couldn't engage at all. I was eagerly waiting for this movie to just be over so I could shake it from my head. It felt like being talked at in the corner of a party by someone who just read a book on a topic that you couldn't care less about. I'll grant the filmmakers credit for finding a different approach and one seeped in the realistic details of government action, but if you're like me, by the fifteenth conference room your eyes will glaze over. I don't think this was the best approach for a film narrative and it completely drains the fun from giant monsters.
Nate's Grade: C

Jamie Clarke

A good and entertaining return to the original Japanese Godzilla series, It wastes little time getting to the destruction and there's an awful lot at… MoreA good and entertaining return to the original Japanese Godzilla series, It wastes little time getting to the destruction and there's an awful lot at times, Godzilla's style was very old fashioned and even though it looks very weird it's the classic look, There's some humour and camp bits at times but doesn't effect the movie, The effects were amazing with the city carnage and action make the movie as good as it was.

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